Mounting Race Seats
03-26-2010, 04:40 PM
#22
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I would not worry about the hard cornering as much as an accident. I was thinking about doing something like that but decided against that. I want to sit as low as I can as well but not at the risk of my safety. Its a trade off.
+1 on reinforcing it.
Have a great day,
Jared
+1 on reinforcing it.
Have a great day,
Jared
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03-26-2010, 05:53 PM
#24
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I think the lateral support is what it needs to prevent it from twisting during a high lateral G load hit. The belts a designed to keep the ocupant in the seat not the seat and ocupant in the car.
Have a great day,
Jared
Have a great day,
Jared
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03-27-2010, 01:32 AM
#31
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+1 on reinforcing it.
Thanks for the input guys. I always thought it was strong enough, the seat does not budge when you pull hard on it from the top in any direction but you guys have convinced me to honestly reevaluate the strength of this mount. What I think I'm going to do is weld in an X brace so its a box with an X, that should take care of any twisting or lateral flex.
Thanks for the input guys. I always thought it was strong enough, the seat does not budge when you pull hard on it from the top in any direction but you guys have convinced me to honestly reevaluate the strength of this mount. What I think I'm going to do is weld in an X brace so its a box with an X, that should take care of any twisting or lateral flex.
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03-27-2010, 02:58 AM
#32
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If you're bolting to the factory humps, that will be strong enough. Otherwise, reinforce below the floor.
Some rails would work very nicely.
Reinforcing on top of the floor will do absolutely squat to prevent the seat ripping itself out of the thin sheet metal that is Miata's floor.
Some rails would work very nicely.
Reinforcing on top of the floor will do absolutely squat to prevent the seat ripping itself out of the thin sheet metal that is Miata's floor.
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03-27-2010, 03:36 AM
#33
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Perhaps the single biggest safety factor in a crash is staying tightly bound in a seat that is well anchored to the chassis.
Two factors are of great concern: The seat and mounts need to be worthy of about 30 G's. 2nd, the harness and belts need to anchored both equally well and at the proper angles.
Loads measured in Indy car and F1 crashes have often exceeded 100 G's with the driver walking (stumbling) away. That does not include overweight drivers.
The last thing you want to do is die in a light weight crash. If you gotta go, make it a good one.
Corky
crashworthy design engineer in a previous life, but still very close to my heart.
Two factors are of great concern: The seat and mounts need to be worthy of about 30 G's. 2nd, the harness and belts need to anchored both equally well and at the proper angles.
Loads measured in Indy car and F1 crashes have often exceeded 100 G's with the driver walking (stumbling) away. That does not include overweight drivers.
The last thing you want to do is die in a light weight crash. If you gotta go, make it a good one.
Corky
crashworthy design engineer in a previous life, but still very close to my heart.
If you want to throw out someones experiance then please go right ahead and do so at your own risk. Just don't come crying if you get hurt. I honestly would rather have a full weld in cage but I can't rationalize it on a DD. This is not the place to be cheap. There are plenty of other places you can do that.
Have a great day,
Jared
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03-27-2010, 09:31 AM
#34
The older NAs also had place to bolt it to the tranny tunnel. The NBs do not have this.
I'll get pics of mine, but I copied a guy's idea from cardomain. I'll take a look for the page. I used to 1.5" strips of 3/16" steel bolted to the stock holes, and the seat bolts to the strips. I used grade 8 zinc plated bolts to fasten everything, and used a 9/16" bolt for the seat belt receiver with 1/2"x4"x4" steel backing plate.
EDIT:
I copied this guy's, but I didn't use 4 pieces of metal. I was able to bolt just the two to the floor and the seats to them. I also contoured the brackets to drop below the OEM seat humps and follow the floor. I lowered the steering wheel with a 1/4" spacer as well.
Here is the link
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/158355/4
I'll get pics of mine, but I copied a guy's idea from cardomain. I'll take a look for the page. I used to 1.5" strips of 3/16" steel bolted to the stock holes, and the seat bolts to the strips. I used grade 8 zinc plated bolts to fasten everything, and used a 9/16" bolt for the seat belt receiver with 1/2"x4"x4" steel backing plate.
EDIT:
I copied this guy's, but I didn't use 4 pieces of metal. I was able to bolt just the two to the floor and the seats to them. I also contoured the brackets to drop below the OEM seat humps and follow the floor. I lowered the steering wheel with a 1/4" spacer as well.
Here is the link
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/158355/4
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03-27-2010, 10:58 PM
#35
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This is what make me think you need to reinforce those seat brackets. I don't know about you but I am willing to add a little wieght down low so that I may have a better chance of comming out alive and relatively unharmed.
If you want to throw out someones experiance then please go right ahead and do so at your own risk. Just don't come crying if you get hurt. I honestly would rather have a full weld in cage but I can't rationalize it on a DD. This is not the place to be cheap. There are plenty of other places you can do that.
Have a great day,
Jared
If you want to throw out someones experiance then please go right ahead and do so at your own risk. Just don't come crying if you get hurt. I honestly would rather have a full weld in cage but I can't rationalize it on a DD. This is not the place to be cheap. There are plenty of other places you can do that.
Have a great day,
Jared
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03-27-2010, 11:11 PM
#36
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If you're bolting to the factory humps, that will be strong enough. Otherwise, reinforce below the floor.
Some rails would work very nicely.
Reinforcing on top of the floor will do absolutely squat to prevent the seat ripping itself out of the thin sheet metal that is Miata's floor.
Some rails would work very nicely.
Reinforcing on top of the floor will do absolutely squat to prevent the seat ripping itself out of the thin sheet metal that is Miata's floor.
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03-28-2010, 12:12 AM
#37
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My last post was not intended towards you it was just a general statement. No that I have reread it it reads like it was intended towards you. Sorry.
Have a great day,
Jared
Have a great day,
Jared
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03-30-2010, 09:54 AM
#39
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I meant to say "steel rails", or "pieces of flat iron". But, seems like you've done what's necessary.
I've seen some seats bolted with only large washers securing the seat to the floor, and, personally, it feels iffy.
Safety is not something to skimp on. Having been in a rather nasty off on a bike (while wearing full gear, and still having suffered a concussion), I am not looking forward to regretting not spending enough on safety, and always try to fully address it.
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